Therapeutic galvanic apparatus



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T. SCHMAUSBR.

, THBRAPBUTIC GALVANIG APPARATUS. No. 423,959. Patented Mar. 25, 1890.

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THERAPBUTIG GALVANIG APPARATUS. No. 423,959. Patented Mar. 25, 1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORESGHMAUSER, 0F ALLEGI-IENY, PENNSYLVANIA.

TH ERAPEUTIC QALVANIC APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 423,959, dated March 2.5, 1890.

Application filed December 3, 1889. Serial No. 332,365. (No model.)

T0 all whom it ntay concern:

Be it known that I, THEODORE SCHMAUSER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Allegheny, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certainl new and useful Improvements in Therapeutic Galvanic Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention pertains to therapeutic galvanic apparatus, its object being the production of an apparatus which will be convenient of manipulation, compact of form and construction, and efficient in operation.

The present invention covers improvements upon Letters Patent issued to, me Nos. 246,036

and 246,037, dated August 23, 1881, and No.

312,660, dated February24, 1885. The points of improvement relate to the manner of supporting the electrodes of the cells, to the construction of the zinc electrode, to the combination, with a therapeutic galvanic apparatus, of a milliammeter of novel construction, whereby, in connection with a rheostat, I am able to ascertain and administer the proper strength of current to a construction whereby the whole apparatus may be quickly and easily put into a conveniently-portable condition, and to the means for raising and lowering` the battery-cells for the purpose of immersing the electrodes in the electrolytic iiuid.

The following drawings are attached to and form a part of this specification:

Figure 1 represents a general perspective view of the apparatus in working condition. Figs. 2 and 3 represent perspective views of the apparatus, seen in two parts to render it easily portable. Fig. 3 is a detail view of a hinge used in connection withthis apparatus. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the apparat-us with a portion of the case and cover broken away. Fig. 5 is a vertical section through a portion of one side of the case. Figs. 6 and 7 are vertical sections, taken at right angles to each other, of the milliammeter used in connection with this apparatus. Fig. 8 is adetail perspective view -of a couple of elements, showing the manner of supporting the same. Fig. 8'L is a section through the device which supports the elements. Fig. 9 is an elevation of the zinc element used in my battery before the insulating material is applied to one of its sides. of a supplemental bottom for one of the parts of the apparatus when it is divided. Fig. 11 is a central section of the same, and Fig. l2 is a diagram of the circuits.

Referring, first, to the manner of supporting the elements or electrodes of the battery, E, Fig. l, represents a supporting-plate which is placed flush with the top edges of the case A when the cover A2 is thrown back. This plate is made of either hard rubber or a similar insulating material and is provided with anumber of rows-in this instance four-of slots e, each one of which is adapted to receive a .screw CZ, supporting two battery elements D D.

The screw enters a slot and is secured in place by clamping it between or against its top and bottom sides. This screw is secured in a block CZ in such a manner that it cannot be removed therefrom. shown in section. It is formed with a chamber d5 in its lower side and a threaded perforation d, of smaller' diameter, extendingtherefrom through the top of the block. The screw Fig. lO is a plan In Fig. 8 the block is works in the threaded perforation and is fitted Y with a nut dhwhich occupies the chamber and prevents the removal of the screw. The block d is of hard rubber or other suitable insulating material. To the top of this block there is connected a metallic clip d2. in place by projecting pins (Z3. The ends of this clip extend beyond the sides of the block and are bent downward at right angles, leaving a wide and a narrow space, respectively, between the sides of the block and the bent portions of the clip. In this space thus formed are placed the electrodes D Done of carbon and the other of Zinc-and they are held when in position by an inwardly-projecting lip in the clip which engages with a groove in the head of the electrode. The electrode is inserted in place by bringing its groove int-o line with the lip and sliding it laterally into place, 'as shown in Fig. 8. The elements of the battery being coupled in series, one of the elements D,when in working condition, is located in one cell, while the other element is located in the next adjoining cell, the two being in electrical connection through the metallic clip cl2. Then the couple is secured to the supporting-plate E. The projecting pins d3 fit into It is secured IOO small cavities di, (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8,) and thus prevent any rotation or displacement of the couple. It will thus be seen that I have provided a simple means et supporting the couples which will admit of their ready removal and replacement, either from the supporting-plate E or the block d and clip d2.

In one of my previous patents above referred to I have described a battery element consisting of a thin zinc plate,one side of which is coated with a layer of insulating material. I have found in practice that unless special means are provided this coating of insulation will sometimes crack and tall off, principally at the edges of the plate, and to prevent this I propose to bend the two side edges and the bottom` edge over at an angle of about thirty degrees, thus forming a kind of trough, and place the insulated coating in the trough, so that its edges are thoroughly protected.

So far as known to me I am not aware of an instance in which a milliammeter has been placed permanently in connection with the casing of a portable galvanic battery. Milliammeters 4are of late sometimes usedin connection with such apparatus; but they are always separate and cumbersome structures. My idea is to provide a milliammeter of diminutive size and to locate the saine within the battery-casing and to provide suitable connections and switches for throwing it into circuit at any time. Milliammeters are used in connection with medical galvanic batteries for the purpose of measuring the amount et' current administered to a patient, or, in other words, to measure the dose. They are therefore used in connection with a rheostat and pole-changer. The forms of the twolastmen tioned devices have already been patented by me. The rheostat, however, is shown in Fig. l at F, and the pole-changer at F. The milliammeter which I have devised consists of a flattened elliptical hollow coil G, of tine copper wire, within which is suspended a permanent magnet G. This magnet is of thin hat steel shaped into two arms forming an angle with each other of about ninety degrees. The arms are of equal weight and length and their ends are semicircular. This magnetis pivoted in j eweled bearin gs g and carries a light needle g', which plays in `front of the scale g-. The needle normally stands vertical at. zero, and the scale is divided into twenty parts, to the right and to the left, to indicate the direction of current as well as its strength.

o represents a needle-arrester consisting of a pronged wire which may be shoved in or out through the back of the milliammetercase to iuclose or free the needle. The milliammeter is inclosed in a suitable case G2, which is hinged at G3 to the inside of the cover A2. It is mounted in such a position that it may be tilted back in a horizontal position, so that it will not interfere with other parts of the apparatus when the coveris closed. The vertical position is of course the working po sition. \Vhen the milliamineter is tilted back,

it is held by a catch g3, and when in its raised position it is held by a catch g1.

In Fig. 7 I have shown a rod gi", which is threaded through a portion of the case supporting the milliammeter. By turning this rod one side of the millianimeter-box will be raised or lowered slightly, for the purpose of leveling the milliammeter and bringing the needle to the zero-point.

gli represents a fiat spring, to which the bottom board gy" of the milliammeter-frame is attached. The tendency of this spring is to hold the end of rod g5 iirmly down, thus preventing any jarring or vibration. The catch g4 is attached to the board g. The meter is provided with switch gl, by means ot which the current flowing through the magnetizin gcoil G and thence to the external circuit may be varied within wide limits and the milliammeter still be in condition to indicate the amount of current flowing upon the saine scale, provided as before indicated. I have placed shunt-coils I, of specific resistance, in a separate case in the cover A2, and these coils are connected with the switch and with the other circuits in such a manner that by moving the switch gi over the contacts g8, I am able to vary the current flowing in the coil to either one-tenth or one-hundredth part, rcspectively, of the full amount of the current. Each division marked on the scale will therefore represent onetenth or one-hundredth part, respectively, of the current liowi n g when any shunt-coil is in circuit. Ot' course the value of the shunt-coils may be varied at will; but those herein presented will give a limit of from one to two thousand millampres.

My battery when complete with all the attachments and with the iiuid in the cells weighs about iifteen andahalf pounds. This weight is comparativelylight; but if it isnccessary to carry the battery in the hands a long distance even this weight will become burdensome, and I have provided a way whereby the apparatus may be divided into two parts, in which case one part may be carried in each hand, thus dividing the weight and rendering it less burdensome to carry.

The box. or casing is divided into two parts A and A', respectively. The lower part contains the box A3, in which is placed the battery-cells. (Represented in dotted lines in Fig. 4.) The upper part of the box supports the elements D D', tbc., of the battery and the other attachments shown in Fig. l. The upper and lower parts of the battery are secu red together by means of springcatches a and hinges a. To separate the parts A A from each other, the spring-catches a a are released by pressing the buttons. Then the part A may be tilted back, and, iinally, by unlocking the hinges, will be hereinafter described, the parts are freed and may be entirely removed from each other; but this removal of the parts from each other leaves the upper part without a bottom and the lower part without IOO IIO

a top. I have therefore provided ,two extra pieces H and J, thevone constituting the bottom of the upper partand the other the top of the lower part. The part H is provided with a rubber-cloth-lined pan H which covers nearly its entire inner surface, and in Vwhich may be placed blotting-paper or other absorbent material to catch the drippings from the ends of the electrodes D D. This part H is providedon its rear edge with two lpins 7L h, which, when it is placed in position,

are passed into holes h', (shown in Fig. 2,) formed in the lower edge of the upper part of the box. The front side of 'the part H is fitted with sockets h'adapted to receive and holdthe two spring-catches@ 'on t-he front side of the box. The part H is then held in` its place and forms a' neat and substantial bottom for the upper half of the battery-box.

The top for the lower half of the box lis shown in Fig. It consists of an ordinary rectangular cover of the usual form of boxcovers,and it vis fitted at the rear with twov halfhin ges, which are adapted to engage with corresponding half-hinges 'on the rear side of this portion of the box. The forward edge of this cover is locked down by means of springcatches a a.. Before the cover is placed in position, however, I usually cover the cells with a sealing-board or hydrostat similar to that shown in my Letters Patent, No. 312,650.` This completes the covering of the lower halfofthe box, and by bringing the hand-straps up over the tops and securing them the two parts may be carried one in each hand.

that they may be taken apart. The pin connecting the two parts together is provided at one end with a right-angle osett. This olfset serves as a handle by means of which the pin may be'withdrawn sufficiently to allow thehinges to be taken apart. The entire removal of the pin from ythe hinge is prevented by the part z' coming against the lug i', located 1 between the two hinges. To prevent the accidental removal of the pin, one of the loops through which it passes is left partially open,

as illustrated in Fig. 3% andthe part t' runs into this opening and is held there by tion. 1

Referring now to the manner of raising fricand lowering the cells for the purpose of putting the battery into or out of operative sides of the main casing at opposite points The projection Z at the top of the box A3 is hollow andadapted to receive a spring-catch Z3 near its extremeV lLipper edge. Within the projection Z is formedV a notch Z, with which a shoulder Z of the spring-catch Z3 is adapted Thel hinges at the back of the box are made sof to engage. The upper projection Zmay more properly be called a"socket. It, however, at the same time serves as a guide for the box A3. The lower projection Z may or may not be hollow. There are two of these springcatches Z3, one upon each side of the box. They are connected with cords fm, which pass up through grooves in the upper half of the main box and over guide-rollers m', mounted near the upper edge of the box. From these rollers the cords lead along the upper edge of the box to other guide-rollers m2, near the front edge of the box. From these rollers the cords pass to the opposite ends, respectively, of a rod M, which is about the width of the main box, and when the same is closed the rod occupies a v`slot or groove M along the front edge of the box. 'This rod is provided with a handle M2, by means of which it is manipulated. When the cells are to be raised, so as to immerse thebattery elements, the rod M is lifted out of the groove M and carried down over the front of the box, the two cords being led, respectively, through grooves m3 m3. The front of the box is fitted on each side with two vertical ratchets N N, which are adapted to receive at any point the rod M, so

'as to prevent its outward movement. When the rod Vis pulled down, the cell-box is .lifted and may be supported at any height desired by means of the ratchets N N.' The springcatches Z3 Z3 are permanently attached to the cords m m, so that when the upper and lower halves of the box are separated the operation is first to tilt the upper half of the box back slightly and then release andV remove the spring-catches Z3 Z3 by pressing the shoulders Z5 Z5 from the notches ZJK Z4, after which the parts of the case may be separated;

Having thus described my claim 1. As a means of coupling the elements of galvanic batteries in series, a supporting plate or board of insulating material having formed in its edge a series of slots, in combination with a series of metallic coupling-clips'each clip having secured to it the positive andnegative electrodes of two adjoining separate cells, substantially'as described.

2. As a means of supporting Vthe twoV element-s of a galvanic battery, a block of 4insulating material having'secured to ita clip or bracket whose ends stand in parallelplanes to two opposite faces of the block and some distance therefrom, the said ends formed with an inward projection, in combination with the two battery elements having grooves at-their invention, I

upper ends, said elements adaptedtoslide into the spaces between the block and bracket and held in place by the engagement of said IOO IIO

4. A zinc element for galvanic batteries, consisting ofa plate having its edges bent to one side to form a kind ot" trough, in combination with a layer or coating of insulating material illed into said trough,substantially as described.

5. An element for galvanic batteries, consisting ot' a rectangular plate of zinc having three of its edges bent over to one side to form a kind of trouglnand a layer ot' insulating material confined between the edges of said trough, for t-he purpose set forth.

b. The combination, with a portable therapeutic galvanic apparatus and its box or case, ot' a milliammeter hinged to the inside of said box or case and adapted when the cover is in its open horizontal position to be swung into a vertical position, for the purpose described.

7. The combination, with a port-able therapeutic galvanic battery and its box or case, of a milliammeter permanently connected therewith and mounted upon an adjustable base, and a screw-rod or equivalent device for adjusting the milliammeter, substantially as described.

S. A box or case for portable galvanic batteries divided into two parts adapted to be separated from each other, one part having attached to it a portion of a galvanic battery and the other part having attached to it the remainder of the battery.

9. A box or case for portable galvanic batteries divided into two parts adapted to be separated from each other, one part having attached to it the elements or electrodes of a galvanic battery and the other part carrying said battery-cells containing the fluid.

l0. A box or case forportable galvanie batteries divided into two parts adapted to be separated from each other, one part being hinged to the other by separable hinges.

1l. A box or case for galvanic batteries formed in two parts and held together by separable hinges, in combination with top and bottom boards adapted to be adj usted to said parts for protectionwhen the same are separated.

12. A box or case for galvanic batteries formed in two parts and held together by separable hinges, the upper part holding in suspension the elements or electrodes of the battery, in combination with a bottom board constructed to be attached to the lower side of said part when it is separated from the other part of the box to serve as a bottom therefor, said board having formed on its inner side a drip-pan to catch any dripping from the ends of the electrodes, substantially as described.

13. The combination, with a box or case for galvanic batteries formed in two separable parts, of hinges securing the same together, each consisting of two leaves hinged together by a removable pin having an oiset, said pin passing through eyes formed on each half of the hinge, one of the eyes being open to permit of the entrance of the offset on the pin, for the purpose set forth.

ll. A therapeutic galvanic apparatus consisting of a box or case, the upper part of the same containing the battery elements or electrodes and the lower part a separate box containing the cells of electrolytic fluid, in combination with two cords, one connected with each side of the cell-box and extending vertically upward to the top of the case, where they pass at right angles over guiderollcrs, thence over guide-rollers at the front ofthe box, and finally to the extremities of a handle by means of which the cell-box may be raised, substantially as described.

l5. A therapeutic galvanic apparatus consisting of a box or case, the upper part of the same containing the battery elements or electrodes and the lower part a separate box containing the cells of electrolytic iiuid, in combination with two cords attached to the cell-box at one end and to a handle at the other end, and ratchets on the front wall of the box or case,with which said handle is adapted to engage, as and for the purpose set forth.

16. The battery box or case formed in two separable parts, the lower part containing a cell-box, in combination with liftingcords having attached to their extremities springcatches adapted to engage with the cell-box, as and for the purpose set forth.

17. A portable electric battery contained in a suitable case or box which is separable into two parts, in combination with a sealingboard or hydrostat placed over the top of the cells, substantially as described.

18. The combination,with a portable therapeutic galvanic apparatus and its box or case, of a milliammeter hinged to theinside of said box or ease and adapted when the cover is in its open horizontal position to be swung into a vertical position, and means for lovelin g the milliammeter, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THEODORE SCIlMAUSER.

lVitnesses:

WM. A. ROSENBAUM, THOMAS K. TRENGHARD.

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